Head coach John Ross and the Huskies have about a week of training completed, including Saturday night's Red-White scrimmage at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex. The team has been practicing twice each day - with one morning session and one evening session around meetings and meals.

The Huskies enter the 2014 campaign with high hopes of challenging for a Mid-American Conference championship.

Last season's leading goal scorer Nicole Gobbo returns to lead the offense. The junior forward scored six goals in 2013 and is aiming higher this season.

Gobbo will be joined in attack by returning multiple-goal scorers in the form of senior forward Allie McBride and sophomore attacker Jess Wooldridge.

In the midfield, NIU will welcome the veteran presence of senior Lauren Noonan, a three-year starter who could serve as the anchor of the Huskies' squad. Alongside her, junior Emily Nulty is back after starting 18 games last season and tying for the team lead with two assists.

NIU also welcomes several freshmen expecting to contribute significantly right away.

Forward Allie Ingham and goalkeeper Amy Annala both played well in the Red-White scrimmage, and they are just two of the 10 highly touted rookies joining NIU this season.

With a roster composed of a talented mixture of youth and experience, the Huskies begin the regular season with four consecutive games on the road. NIU opens at defending Missouri Valley Conference champion Illinois State (Aug. 22, 4 p.m.) before travelling to Western Illinois (Aug. 24, 1 p.m.) for another in-state matchup.

After the team travels to Hawai'i for two more matches (at Hawai'i, Aug. 29, 12 a.m.; vs. Seattle, Aug. 31, 12 a.m.), NIU women's soccer holds its home opener against Nebraska-Omaha on Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex in DeKalb.

That is just one of six night matches the Huskies will host in 2014, including an in-state clash against Chicago State in Naperville, Ill. on Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.

The home schedule also includes a showdown with 2013 MAC Tournament semifinalist Eastern Michigan (Oct. 24, 7 p.m.) and other conference matchups against Kent State, Ohio, Buffalo and Bowling Green.